Sep 10 – A Fine Balance – Running A Local NGO In China

Fighting environmental degradation is hard enough. But Professor Lü Zhi, founder and director of ShanShui, one of China’s leading environmental NGOs, faces ever-present challenges in the very task of running her outfit. Fund raising, dealing with government and business interests, and garnering the support of rural communities are all common hurdles local green NGOs like hers face.

Her team finds ways to work effectively with local communities, government agencies and businesses, balancing environmental protection with the sometimes-dire economic needs of rural folk.

Prof Lü, who will lead the Chinese non-governmental delegation to the Copenhagen climate change talks in December, will share her experiences of working with international NGOs and her views on the development of Chinese NGOs. She will also speak on doing work in Tibetan areas, where ShanShui has projects.

She says: “The hardest thing is to change people’s minds and behavior. Whether it’s the government, business or regular people. Farmers are worrying about paying their bills, local governments are concerned about jobs and education, and conservation isn’t everyone’s top priority. It’s always a struggle. But the most important thing is to understand and appreciate why people feel the way they do. “Everybody likes pandas, but their everyday issues take precedence.”

DATE: Thursday, September 10th
TIME: 7pm talk start, bar open from 6.30pm
VENUE: Yishu8/艺术8, between Guomao and Wanda Plaza (click here for map or see bottom for directions)
ENTRANCE: free to members, 50 rmb on the door to non-members
RSVP to fcccadmin@gmail.com

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Professor Lü Zhi (吕植), a conservation biologist and director of the center for nature and society at Peking University, is one of the world’s most respected experts in the field of giant panda research and a leader in China’s struggle for environment and wildlife protection. Her years of laboratory work and field research – living in inhospitable conditions in the forests for long periods of time – has produced a body of research unequalled in the field today. She has earned international acclaim and innumerable awards. She has led the WWF panda conservation program, taught conservation management at Yale University and was the first country director for China for Conservation International before founding ShanShui.

The entrance is on the west side of Zhenzhi Road 针织路. Go in through the gateway with 北京市电线电缆总厂over the top. (It’s next to a building almost totally covered in ivy and opposite HAIR FOCUS.) Taxis aren’t allowed in. Walk ahead about 200 meters and you will find a single storey building on your right with a round moongate entrance. This is Yishu8. Yishu8 is a modern arty space in a converted cable factory complex.